The Open University maintains high ratings for student satisfaction

The Open University is in the top three places for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the UK for student satisfaction, maintaining its position at the forefront of the National Student Survey ratings since they began in 2005. Over 30,000 OU students were surveyed – the sample size more than trebling since last year’s survey - with 93% saying they were satisfied overall with the quality of their course.

Will Swann, Director, Students at The Open University, said: “The OU places a huge emphasis on student support and course development, using the latest technologies and educational practices. I am delighted that this continual focus on the individual learning experience has meant that students continue to rate their OU experiences so highly, and that the OU has maintained a leading position in this table.”

A total of 152 HEIs and 113 Further Education Colleges from across the UK took part in the survey.

ENDS

Notes to editors1. 30,351 OU students were surveyed in this year’s National Student Survey. In 2009, 9118 OU students were surveyed.2. The National Student Survey results are available on www.unistats.com from 18 August 20103. About The Open UniversityThe Open University (OU) is the largest higher education institution in the UK and a world leader in flexible distance learning. Since it began in 1969, the OU has taught more than 1.5 million students and has more than 250,000 current students, including 20,000 overseas, learning in their own time using course materials, online activities and content, web-based forums and tutorials and through tutor groups and residential schools.

The OU has been highly rated for teaching quality, and has been at the top of student satisfaction rankings in the National Student Survey since it was introduced in 2005. 70% of students are in full-time or part-time employment, and three out of four FTSE 100 companies have sponsored staff to take OU courses.

The OU supports a vibrant research portfolio and in the UK's latest Research Assessment Exercise (RAE 2008), the University climbed 23 places to 43rd, securing a place in the UK's top 50 higher education institutions

Regarded as Britain’s major e-learning institution, the OU is a world leader in developing technology to increase access to education on a global scale. Its vast ‘open content portfolio’ includes free study units on OpenLearn, which has had more than 12.8 million unique visitors, and materials on iTunes U, which has recorded 22.5 million downloads. The OU has a 40 year partnership with the BBC which has moved from late-night lectures in the 1970s to prime-time programmes such as Life, Coast, James May’s Big Ideas and The Money Programme.